South Carolina suffers two transfer portal losses right before deadline

Lou Bezjak
·2 min read

South Carolina’s football roster is losing a key member from the 2023 recruiting class.

Linebacker Grayson “Pup” Howard will enter the transfer portal, he announced Tuesday evening. Howard’s decision comes on the final day players are allowed to enter the portal until April.

Howard post this in a social media message: “Thank you to the University of South Carolina. Thank you to the coaches, staff and my teammates. Decisions like these are never easy, but necessary. I will be entering my name into the transfer portal. God bless.”

Howard joins fellow linebacker Stone Blanton in announcing plans to leave the program.

247Sports also reported Tuesday that Kamron Sandlin, a tight end from Class of 2023, will transfer.

Howard was an early enrollee last year and went through bowl practice as Gamecocks got ready to play Notre Dame. Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer raved about Howard when he officially signed with USC in December 2022.

“Grayson ‘Pup’ Howard is unbelievable.,” Beamer said. “When I told you about a text message from a recruit saying that we want people that would die for this university — that was Pup. … His ability as a player speaks for himself. He’s got a great personality. He is so positive all the time, competitive, mature, business-like. I’m impressed with him the more and more I am around him.”

Howard appeared in 11 games this season for USC and finished the season with 19 tackles, one forced fumble and one tackle for loss.

Howard was a four-star prospect by 247Sports and On3. He committed to USC over Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU and Tennessee, among others.

Howard had a standout senior season at Andrew Jackson High School, recording a team-high 188 tackles including 18 for loss.

Sandlin, a quarterback in high school at Anniston High in Alabama, was moved to tight end and spent time with running backs when he arrived at USC. He didn’t appear in any games this season.

The Howard and Sandlin departures give the Gamecocks’ 21 portal losses this cycle. USC signed eight from the transfer portal.

South Carolina portal losses

QB Tanner Bailey

QB Colten Gauthier

RB Mario Anderson (Memphis)

OL JonDarius Morgan (UAB)

OL Grayson Mains

OL Jaylen Nichols

WR Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. (Ole Miss)

WR O’Mega Blake (East Carolina)

WR Landon Samson

WR Zavier Short

WR Kylic Horton

TE Kam Sandlin

DL Xzavier McLeod (Georgia)

DL Felix Hixon

DL D’Andre Martin (Charlotte)

DL Donovan Westmoreland

LB Stone Blanton

LB Grayson “Pup” Howard

DB Kajuan Banks

DB Isaiah Norris

K Mitch Jeter (Notre Dame)